Draft gear



Jne 7,` 1932.

' D. F. SPROUL DRAFT GErAR Original Filed Nov. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1l 26 25 65u26 La PPO @MM www5# June 7, 1932. D, F SPROUL 1,861,460

A DRAFT GEAR Original Filed No v. 2. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E fzuuzvm tonac 7.75 Pou/L Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES DONALD F. SPROUL, FCHICAGQILLINOS, .ASSIGNOR TO CARDWELL WESTINGI-IOUSE COMPANY, ACORPORATEON 0F DELAWARE DRAFT GEAR Application filed. November 2, 19,29,Serial No. 404,221.

The invention relates to means for insuring the correct assembly ofeasily misplaced elements of a draft gear, especially applicable togears of the well known Cardwell type although not necessarily limitedthereto.

In the Cardwell gear there is employed, in connection with each of thefollowers, a pair of triangular wedge blocks which slidingly engage theface of the follower and cooperate with other wedging elements of thegear, the triangular blocks being forced apart as the gear iscompressed. It frequently happens that the assembly of the elements of adraft gear is done by mechanics who are not especially trained to thisparticular work,

and where the triangular blocksl'iavewec ging faces of unequal lengththere is a strong probability that such a workman will pesition themimproperly, in which event the gear would be rendered of littlepractical value.

It is the object of this invention to insure the proper assembly of theelements, and to render it impossible to improperly position thetriangular blocks.

The invention consists in a chambered follower provided with guidewayswhich cooperate with the triangular blocks to insure the correctpositioning of the latter, and a preferred embodiment of the inventionis herein disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a detail plan section of aCardwell gear embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of one of the followers;

Fig. 4 is a detail section corresponding with that of Fig. 2, showing amodification; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified form ofconstruction of the follower.

A. pair of center or draft sills is shown at 10, and between them isenclosed a Cardwell gear comprising a pair of chambered followers 11,12; a pair of triangular wedge-blocks 13, 14, and 15, 16, seated againstthe inner face of a transverse wall of each follower; a

im central wedging element 17 cooperating with Renewed October 29, 1931.

the inner wedging faces of each pair of the triangular blocks; a pair ofouter wedge elements 18, 19, each cooperating with the outer faces ofone of the triangular wedge-blocks of each pair; a straining rod 20setting through the elements 17, 18 and 19, and through the sills andhelical springs 21, 22, encircling the outer end portions of the rod 20and reacting upon the elements 18, 19, against spring seats 23, 2li,fixed upon the ends of the rod.

In accordance with later 'practice the triangular blocks 13, lll, havewedging faces of unequal length, and consequently of (liderent pitch,their inner or adjacent faces being the shorter. Unless provision ismade for preventing improper assembly an inexperienced workman, failingto observe the comparatively slight difference between the two wedgingfaces, might easily set the blocks with their wrong faces adjacent.

For the purpose of rendering such mistaires impossible the followers areprovided with guideways in one or both of their horizontal faces, andthe triangular blocks are provided with angular bosses 26 on one or bothof their ends, for cooperating with these channels, the length of theboss being slightly less than the width of the channel. The channel ismade T-shape, as shown in Fig. 3, the cross 27 of the T being adjacentthe inner end of the channel and the stem thereof extending to themargin of the wall in which it is formed.

ln the modification of Fig. 5, the channel 25 is shown as l. shape,having but a single lateral extension 28 at its inner end, and a similarchannel, as indicated in dotted lines at 29, is formed in the otherhorizontal wall of the follower. 1

1n assembling the parts one of the blocks, as 14, isiirst introducedinto the chamber of the follower 11, its boss 26 sliding freely withinthe longitudinal portion or stem of the channel 25, and when the blockreaches the transverse wall of the follower it is moved to the right orto the left, as may be necessary to position it with its longer wedgingface outward.

The block 13 being nowsimilarly introduced, the left rearward corner ofits boss 26 will pass the angle at the left of the chan. nel as theblock comes into Contact with the inner' wedging face of the block 14,whereupon the block 13 may be moved to the left to operative position.

It will be seen that if an error has been made in inserting the block14, so that its more obtuse wedging face is to the left, this face willso far trespass upon the stem por-- tion of the channel, projected, thatit will ohstruct the entrance of the block 13 and coinpel the shiftingof the block 14 to the left instead of to the right before thecompletion of the assembly can be accomplished. `Should the workman.attempt t0 introduce either of the blocks with thewrong face inadvance, its entrance will be similarly prevented; it being necessaryonly that, as shown, the distance from ,either of the wedge faces of theblock to the most remote part of the boss be greater than the width ofthe channel extension.

Obviously the guide channel may have ither the form of Fig. 3 or the Lform of Fig. 5. lNhen the T form is followed there may be a channel inboth the upper or lower walls of the follower, or in one only, and inthe latter case each of the blocks will he provided with a boss at oneend only. lVhere the L form is employed there will be a channel in boththe top and bottom walls, and each of the blocks will be provided with aboss at but one end, as shown in Fig. 4.

The guideway may, if desired, be in other than channel form, and theconstruction may be variously modied from that disclosed withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, which, in its broaderaspects, includes any arrangement which will prevent the improperpositioning of wedge-,blocks of the character described.

I claim as my invention- 1. A draft gear comprising, in con'ihination, achambered follower, a pair of triangular wedge-blocks slidably engagingthe vertical face of the follower, the exposed sides of the blocks beingof unequal length, the follower having one of its horizontal wallsprovided with a central guide channel extending inwardly from its marginand laterally at its inner end, and each of the blocks having anangular-boss on one end for engaging the channel.

2. A draft gear comprising, in combination, a chambered follower, a pairof triangular wedge-blocks Slidably engaging the vertical face of thefollower, the exposed sides of the blocks being of unequal length, thefollower having each of its horizontal walls provided with a centralguide channel extending inwardly from its margin and laterally at itsinner end, and each ofthe blocks having an angular boss on one end forengaging the channel.

3; A draft gear comprising, in combina` tion, a chambered follower, apair of trian gular wedge-blocks slidably engaging the transversevertical face of the follower, their exposed faces being of unequallength, each block having an angular boss on one end and the followerhaving a central T-shaped guide channel in one of its horizontal walls,the stem of the T extending inwardly from the margin of the wall.

LA draft gear comprising, in combination, a cha-mbered follower, a pairof triangular wedge-blocks slidably engaging the transverse verticalface of the follower, their exposed faces being of unequal length, theblocks having angular bosses on their ends and the follower havingcentral T-shaped guide channels in its horizontal walls, the stem of theT extending inwardly from the margin of the wall and its cross memberbeing adjacent the vertical wall of the follower.

5. A draft gear comprising, in combination, a chainbered follower havingT-shaped guide channels in its horizontal walls, the stem of the Textending inwardly from the margin of the wall, and a pair ofwedgeblocks having the form of scalene triangles in sliding engagementwith the transverse wall of the follower, the blocks having an angularboss on each end for cooperating with the channels.

6. A draft gear comprising, in combination, a chambered follower, a pairof triangular wedge-blocks slidably engaging the transverse verticalface of the follower, their exposed faces being of unequal length, theblocks having angular bosses on their ends and the follower havingcentral T-shaped guide channels in its horizontal walls, the stem of theT extending inwardly from the margin of the wall and its cross memberbeing adjacent the vertical wall of the follower, the distance fromeither of the wedge faces of the block to the most remote point of theboss being greater than the width of the lateral extension of thechannel.

7. A draft gear comprising, in combination, a chambered follower, a pairof triangular wedge-blocks slidably engaging the vertical face of thefollower, the exposed sides of the blocks being of unequal length. thefollower having one of its horizontal walls provided with a centralguide channel extending inwardly from its margin and laterally at itsinner end, and each of the bloclrs having an angular boss on one end forengaging the channel, the distance from either of the wedge faces of theblock to the most remote point of the boss being greater than the widthof the lateral extension of the chair nel.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

DONALD F. s'rRoUL.

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